Elisha s



(No Model.) I I E. S. GHAPELL.

TOP.-

No; 596,479. 'Paten'ted Jan. 4, 1898.-

244 W Qibozmg U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELISIIA S. OHAPELL, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

TO P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 596,479, dated January 4, 1898. Application filed April 16 1897. Serial No. 632,414. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELISHA S. CHAPELL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Boston, (Dorchester,) in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tops; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to toy tops;-and it consists, essentially, of a top especially arranged for use by girls, which is provided with a stem upon which the cord or twine is wound in a peculiar manner.

The invention further consists of the details of construction andarrangement, which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

The object of the present invention is to provide a top which need not be thrown from a distance to attain a spinning action, but is adapted to be rested on a flat or hard surface and actuated by suddenly drawing the cord or twine in opposite directions from the winding-stem thereof.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a top embodying the invention and shown wound and ready for spinning. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the top with the winding-cord removed.

Referring to the drawings, wherein similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the views, the numeral 1 designates the body of a top, which may be of any preferred form and construction and suitably ornamented or shaped as may be found desirable. Extending from the body is a spindle 2, the lower portion of which is pointed to providea spinning-point for the top as an entirety and the upper part a winding-stem,which is gradually tapered to provide a reduced neck 3 under a head 4.

The said head 4: is constructed with rounded edges, so as to avoid formation of catching shoulders, and at opposite sides thereof are short grooves or notches 5 of concave form and extending obliquely in different directions. The lower portions of the said short grooves or notches 5 gradually merge into the outer surface of the stem at the point where the neck 3 is located for a purpose which will be presently described.

In applying the winding-cord 6 to the winding-stem, as set forth, it is taken in the left hand while the top is held in the right hand, and in arranging the said cord or string it is doubled equally and the looped end placed over the top of the head and the adjacent parts passed down through the grooves or notches 5. The body of the top is then revolved from the person holding the same and the twine or cord evenly wound upon the stem until the latter is completely covered or nearly all or a part of the said twine or string is applied to the said stem. The spinningpoint of the top is then rested upon a flat or hard surface and the two ends of the twine or cord separated and pulled in opposite di: rections. This operation will cause a rapid rotation of the top and makes it especially adapted for the use of girls, not requiring a throwing movement or any dexterity in manipulating it.

The top is easily wound and four or. five turns of the string around the stem are enough for all practicable purposes. This mode of placing the string in spinning position admits of the application of more power with less friction than is attainable in tops now in use; also, the spindle can be inserted in the body or form an integral part thereof, or the winding portion may be integral and the spinningpoint attached.

It is obviously apparent that many minor changes in the details of construction might be substituted for those shown and described without in the least departing from the nature or spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invent-ion, what is claimed as new is i p A top comprising a body having a spindle extending therefrom with a spinning point on the lower end, and an upper winding-stem which is reduced at its upper end to form a neck having a head with oppositelypositioned reversely-extending short grooves or slots merging at their lower ends into the said neck, and a winding-cord which is doubled and the looped end placed over the said head specification in the presence of two subscriband through the groolves or notches and two ing Witnesses.

arts Wound u on t e stem in the same di- I GCtiOD, the en s being separated and pulled ELISHA CHAPELL 5 in opposite directions to spin the top, sub- Witnesses:

stantially as and for the purpose specified. HENRY W. HUBBARD,

In testimony whereof I have signed this REVERE OHAPELL. 

